strange kernel problem

[nightfrost]

Hi all,
I'm having a strange problem to which I'm expecting none or few replies, since I can hardly supply any useful information. If anyone recognizes the syptoms I'll be happy.

I have been running on gentoo for a little while now (probably since the same day I signed up at the forums here) and this problem just popped up out of nowhere today. When I boot, the kernel gives something which I think it calls stack error and a bunch figures inside "[" "]". And then everything locks and I have to power the computer off. There's no log of this so I don't know how to give more precis information. What I've noticed is that it only happens if I boot using a framebuffer. Oh, and it's not a new kernel-compile, it's the same one I've been using for some time.

What scares me is this: A few months ago, when I was running debian, the same thing all of a sudden happened, and I experimented with it a little and then the next day when I woke up the computer couldn't be turned on (it's a family computer too). Anyway it was sent in for repair and the problem turned out to be with the graphics card, which was replaced.

Oh, one last thing: I use the old framebuffer; not tng and not a radeon framebuffer (I have one of the despised radeon 9800). And I use bootsplash, not fbsplash which for some reason does not work...

So anyone? any ideas?

[nephlim]

Maybe it is the graphic card again?

You say if you aren't using FB it works all fine?
Then don't use FB
Why u need it? You can see the boot screen only for a few seconds? And it maybe that your graphic card won't work with FB or with the selected mode.

What graphic card do you have and which FB mode did you select?

Best regards
_________________
Nobody can change the world, but he could help to make it better...

[nightfrost]

Thanks a lot for the reply

I use an ati radeon 9800, with mode 0x31A. And you're right, I just dropped using the fb, but it's just that annoying feeling when something doesn't work which should (and has worked many times).

As far as I know radeon9800, fb, and mode 0x31A should be no problem...

[nephlim]

You could just use another graphic card for testing fb. If it works you know where the problem is related to...

I hope you'll find a solution anyway...
BTW, feel free to ask again!

Best regards
_________________
Nobody can change the world, but he could help to make it better...

[nightfrost]

Thanks; I'll do that when next time I get around to get a gfx card - for now I'll follow your first advice - no framebuffer. Like you said; it's only a few seconds at bootup (especially with gentoo )